202 Days

The 21 story, 500-room Hilton Palacio del Rio hotel was designed, completed and occupied in an unprecedented period of 202 working days. Built in 1968 for the Texas World's Exposition, HemisFair on San Antonio's River Walk, the modular construction techniques allowed the pre-built rooms to placed by crane in just 46 days. This view at night shows the River Walk, hotel to the left and lightsabers to right. Canon G11, 1 second @ f/4.5, ISO 200 on a tripod.

Ghost Rider

- The street lights and stoplights sparkle in this long exposure of a night street scene. A ghostly bicyclist peddling along the sidewalk leaves a wobbly streak from his taillight. Canon 40D, 55mm, 5 secs @f/20.0, ISO 100 mounted on a tripod. Check out some of my other B&W photos posted at The World in Black & White. For more great black and white images see The Weekend in Black and White.

Hot Now

- There's nothing like a hot Krispy Kreme doughnut. The melt in you mouth sugar bomb is a Southern tradition. It takes super human powers to pass up when the "Hot Now" sign is lit up. Canon G10, 1/15 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 80, mounter on a tripod and taken in a light rail. The picture is just OK but the doughnuts were outstanding.

$1

From 2010 Blog

- No it's not the Northern Lights but a simple light painting completed with $1's worth of thin chemical bracelet lights from Target. We always check out those dollar bins just inside the door at Target stores. Sometimes we find cool bargains like these lights, other times not much of interest. Canon Rebel XTi, 2 seconds @ f/5.6, ISO 200, 50mm lens mounted on a tripod.

Rolling Plasma

From 2010 Blog

- I have posted twice before using pictures I took of a plasma globe. The other two were taken with my hand touching the globe thereby drawing the energy to a single point. In this photo the plasma is rolling randomly throughout the entire globe. Canon 40D, 1/15 sec @ f/3.5, ISO 400.

Plasma Ball

From Plasma Ball

The plasma ball creates an elegant curve as the charge concentrates and arcs towards my hand. Canon 40D, 1/15 sec @ f/3.5, ISO 400, 50mm lens mounted on a tripod.

Lucifer

From Light a Match

The first "friction match" was invented by English chemist John Walker in 1826. These first matches were sold as lucifer matches. Lucifers reportedly could ignite explosively, sometimes throwing sparks at a considerable distance. In the Netherlands matches are still called lucifers. Canon Rebel XTi, 1/3 sec @ f/8.0, ISO 200, 65mm MP-E macro mounted on a tripod.

347 - Pretty Packages

From 365 Project

It is always magical when the presents begin to appear under the Christmas tree. Today was rainy so there was a lot gift wrapping going on at our house. Our resident Santa's helper was hard at work and her efforts brought more of the season into our home. Canon G10 2.5 secs @ f/8.0, ISO 100.

303 - Ghostly

From 365 Project

It is rare that I change the photo of the day post but tonight is one of those times. I had just posted a picture when my brother called and told me about a house in the neighborhood with flying ghosts as part of their Halloween decorations. I grabbed my camera and tripod and went to take a look. These are the ghosts flying by. They had rigged up a moving line with three ghosts traveling across half of the yard. They were still setting up so ride by and check it out, 5700 block of Susquehanna Drive in Virginia Beach. Canon 40D, 1/2 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 400, 30mm focal length.

188 - Will you walk into my parlor?

From 365 Project

said the Spider to the Fly,
'Tis the prettiest little parlor that ever you did spy;
This pretty little parlor caught my eye.
What to do,
but take a picture or two.
OK, poetry is not my thing but the unusual spider web is pretty and cool. Read the real poetry, The Spider and the Fly by Mary Howitt. Canon 40D, 1.3 seconds @ f/16.0, 65mm Canon MP-E Macro on a tripod.

151 - Night Light

From 365 Project

The street lights and stoplights sparkle in this long exposure of a night street scene. A ghostly bicyclist leaves a wobbly read streak from his taillight. Canon 40D, 55mm, 5 secs @f/20.0, ISO 100 mounted on a tripod.

144 - Cool and Refreshing

From 365 Project

Summer is here, so I thought a photo that made you feel cool and refreshed was in order. This orange slice in sparking water creates just that feeling. Canon 40D, 50mm compact macro, 1/250 sec @ f/4.0, ISO 100. A little bright sunlight and some help from a reflector. Thanks Bryan Peterson for the creative macro lesson.

129 - Bald Eagle

From 365 Project

This is one of the pair of American Bald Eagles that nest at Norfolk's Botanical Gardens. This year they hatched three eaglets. Canon 40D, 1/320 sec at f/16.0, ISO 400, 400mm focal length. More photos from today's shoot.

113 - Sparks

From 365 Project

This shower of sparks comes from a grinder sharpening a lawn mower blade. Canon 40D, 1/2 second at f/10.0, ISO 200, 40mm focal length, mounted on a tripod and the shutter fired with the camera's countdown timer.

104 - Red Hot

From 365 Project

Flame is always fascinating. This red flame comes from an old fashion oil lamp. I see a blue flame coming in a future post. Canon 40D ISO 200, f/11 at 1/100s using a Canon 85mm f/1.8 with the Canon Life-Size converter.

100 - Electroluminescence

From 365 Project

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are based on the semiconductor diode. When the diode is forward biased (switched on), electrons are able to recombine with holes and energy is released in the form of light. This effect is called electroluminescence. These blue LED's are from my binary clock, yes I know I'm a geek. Get your own binary clock at Think Geek. Canon 40D, 1/80 sec at f/5.0, ISO 100, Canon 85mm f/1.8 lens.

87 - Air Force Memorial

From 365 Project

The Air Force Memorial in glows against low hanging clouds and mist. Located on a promontory in Arlington, Virginia, overlooking the Pentagon and adjacent to Arlington Cemetery, the memorial's three 270 feet tall stainless arcs evoke the spirit of flight. Taken with a Canon 40D, 5.0s exposure at f/8.0, ISO 200, 28mm equivalent focal length, mounted on a tripod.

75 - Cloud Light

From 365 Project

Virginia's tallest building, the 38 story Westin at Town Center in Virginia Beach lights the low hanging clouds on a rainy evening. I tried unsucessfully to make this photo on February 28th but the rain and wind was just too strong. Captured in a light rain with a Canon G10, 2 second exposure at f/8.0, ISO 80, 34mm equivalent focal length mounted on a tripod.